Udumalai: The Education Department has directed officials to promptly report complaints received through the student mind complaint boxes in government schools.

These boxes, placed in all middle, high, and higher secondary government schools, allow students to report issues like sexual harassment and child marriage anonymously. Previously, headmasters checked these boxes periodically.

However, in response to rising incidents of student sexual assault, authorities have mandated weekly inspections.

In Tiruppur district, the District Teacher Training Institute conducted a session for school teachers on addressing sexual assault cases and the POCSO Act.

School headmasters must now open and review the boxes every week. If complaints related to sexual abuse arise, they must immediately inform the District Child Protection Unit, Child Line, and the police.

The institute also instructed that principals should not handle complaints independently but report them to the relevant authorities, with video documentation for accountability.